Some Jersey City parents and teachers express concerns about superintendent candidate having trained at controversial academy

Some Jersey City parents and teachers are concerned about the history a top candidate for the schools superintendent job has with a controversial superintendents academy that counts the state’s acting education commissioner as one of its graduates.

Marcia V. Lyles graduated from the school, the Broad Superintendents Academy, in 2006, and one of the first questions posed to her when she faced a crowd of about 120 residents in School 11 on Friday was about Broad (rhymes with “road”).

MARCIA V. LYLES

Lyles seemed prepared to defend the academy and her association with it.

“I’m not a disciple of Broad. Broad is not a cult,” she said, adding that she sees Broad, and similar superintendent programs, as opportunities to “network” and grow as an educator.

“I cannot expect students, teachers, parents to continue to learn and grow if I do not find opportunities for myself to learn and grow,” she said.

Lyles, a superintendent in Delaware, and Debra A. Brathwaite, of South Carolina, are the top two candidates to replace Charles T. Epps Jr., the longtime superintendent who retired in December.

Broad opened in 2002, funded by billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad. State Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf is a graduate. Broad spokeswoman Erica S. Lepping described the academy as a “network of school system leaders” hoping to strengthen public schools.

“Graduates of the academy strive to make decisions in the best interests of students, teachers, parents and their communities,” Lepping said.

But Broad’s detractors say its philosophy promotes unsound educational policies. Jersey City Education Association president Tom Favia said the academy supports a slew of reforms opposed by unions, including an emphasis on standardized testing and merit pay for teachers.

“Their philosophy is contrary to what we believe is the best needs of the students,” Favia said. “So naturally, if somebody goes through their program, you have to be concerned what their overall philosophy is.”

According to Lepping, however, Broad does not believe in emphasizing standardized testing teachers need a “wide variety of tools” to help students, she said and she also denied another claim of Broad opponents, that the academy supports privatizing public schools.

“We believe in strengthening public schools through creating school environments that allow good teachers to do great work and students of all backgrounds to thrive,” she said.

The Jersey City Board of Education could appoint Lyles or Brathwaite as early as tonight.